Owner's 33-year 'LUV' story continues

Published 12:50 pm, Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sonny Kirchner is the original owner of this 1980 Chevy LUV, which he bought at Chuck Davis Chevrolet in Houston in October 1980 for $6,000.

Sonny Kirchner is the original owner of this 1980 Chevy LUV, which he bought at Chuck Davis Chevrolet in Houston in October 1980 for $6,000.

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While most of the rest of the car world has left the LUV truck in the past with bell bottoms and rabbit-ear TV antennas, Kirchner, the original owner, has pride in keeping up his quirky piece of American pickup history. less

While most of the rest of the car world has left the LUV truck in the past with bell bottoms and rabbit-ear TV antennas, Kirchner, the original owner, has pride in keeping up his quirky piece of American pickup ... more

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Sonny Kirchner began driving it to shows in the Kingwood and Porter areas. â¦ Kirchner said it, âhas been a class winner in four of seven showings, and people really seem to enjoy seeing it and telling me their LUV stories.â less

Sonny Kirchner began driving it to shows in the Kingwood and Porter areas. â¦ Kirchner said it, âhas been a class winner in four of seven showings, and people really seem to enjoy seeing it and telling ... more

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Sonny Kirchner has kept the truck in impeccable condition, even allowing his son to drive it through three of his high school years, and still managed to keep it in showroom quality.

Sonny Kirchner has kept the truck in impeccable condition, even allowing his son to drive it through three of his high school years, and still managed to keep it in showroom quality.

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The paint, tonneau cover, 1.8L engine and automatic transmission are all original. The truck has 78,000 original miles and no other custom work, restoration or mechanical upgrades have been necessary. The truck really is a sign of the times, with stock AM radio and no air conditioning. less

The paint, tonneau cover, 1.8L engine and automatic transmission are all original. The truck has 78,000 original miles and no other custom work, restoration or mechanical upgrades have been necessary. The truck ... more

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Owner's 33-year 'LUV' story continues

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While it is always cool to check out a classic car that everyone is familiar with, which everyone knew someone growing up who drove one, sometimes it is neater to see the ones that got away - the less common vehicles that time has mostly forgotten. Sonny Kirchner of Porter has had his 1980 Chevy LUV truck since it was new, and while most of the rest of the car world left the LUV truck in the past with bell bottoms and rabbit-ear TV antennas, this original owner has pride in keeping up his quirky piece of American pickup history.

Kirchner was looking for a second vehicle to drive to his job, and while he liked the idea of a pickup truck, he wanted something a bit smaller. The options at the time were pretty limited, and, wanting to buy from an American brand, he went with the Chevy LUV, even though it was manufactured in Japan by Izusu. The LUV was manufactured from 1972 until 1980, then a second generation was introduced from 1981-1982, until, in 1982, when the S series model was first introduced, and the LUV was retired.

Kirchner purchased the truck at Chuck Davis Chevrolet in Houston in October 1980 for $6,000.

He went to that dealership for its good deals, sharing, "Since I was young and poor, I went to Chuck Davis Chevrolet because they were the only dealer at the time that offered 'No Money Down'. "

With only two LUV trucks left on the lot, the decision was made when Kirchner said he wanted an automatic transmission, and he went home with the black LUV, the only automatic LUV at the dealership.

He has kept the truck in impeccable condition, even allowing his son to drive it through three of his high school years, and still managed to keep it in showroom quality.

The paint, tonneau cover, 1.8L engine and automatic transmission are all original, while the chrome wheels and pinstripe details were added in 1984, and the bench seat was redone in 2006. The truck has 78,000 original miles and no other custom work, restoration or mechanical upgrades have been necessary. The truck really is a sign of the times, with stock AM radio and no air conditioning.

About four years ago, Kirchner started to realize the appreciation people have for keeping such a unique classic in mint condition, and began driving it to shows in the Kingwood and Porter areas.

"The truck is not a trailer queen," Kirchner said, adding that it, "has been a class winner in four of seven showings, and people really seem to enjoy seeing it and telling me their LUV stories."

Kirchner still uses it for running around town and for light hauling, and jokes, "If I knew the LUV was only going to last me 33 years I would have never bought it."

It is definitely something you don't see every day. "My research indicates it's one of the last LUVs on the road and certainly the last one in this condition."